1997 January
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
II Volume 14, Number 1 ' Ianuall (January) .1997 "KAMEHAMEHA IS HELPING ME WITH A FUTURE IN BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH" Alin (Pono) Ledford) Biology) Brigham Young University Hawai(i After graduating from Castle High School in 1987, Pono Ledford did a two-year Mormon mission in South America. His subsequent studies in Utah to become a certified medical technician were rewarding, but his yearning for brought him back home. Now a senior at BYU-Hawai'i, Pono is currently searching for new antibiotics in a research program and working toward a degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. He works part-time for a pediatrician who urged him to continue his education. With financial aid from Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate, Pono is nearly fin- ished with his bachelor's degree and hopes to enter med- ical school. If you are of Hawaiian descent, in a full -time college degree program and attending specified Hawai'i colleges, you may quality for nearly $14 nilllion in post-high school financial aid offered by KSBE. For more infor- KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS mation, call our Financial Aid Department at 842-8216. BERNICE PAUAHI BISHOP EsrATE Ka Wai Ola OOHA, Office of Hawaiian Affairs 711 Kapi'olani Blvd., Suite SOO Honolulu, Hawai'i 96813-5249 Volume 14, Number 1 January (Ianuali) 1997 Native Hawaiian inmates -They are the majority in Hawai'i prisons, a minority in the state economic status as a factor in the large by Kelli Meskin percentage of native Hawaiians in the prison system. There are too many native Hawaiians in Kassebaum's report says that "the increas- the Hawai'i state prison system. Hawaiian ing numbers of Hawaiians imprisoned have men, Hawaiian women and Hawaiian youths. created costs and problems for the cornrnuni- Native Hawaiians make up 38 percent of ty ... For the Hawaiianadults to be nearly 15.5 the sentenced felon percent (others say 20 percent) of the population in the prisons population and 39.4 percent of the for FY 93-94. That means prisoners is too great a disparity to be of the nearly 2,500 prison- "Most of the data ignored." ers about 1,000 are show Hawaiian William Ornellas, a member of the Hawaiian. Native Hawaiian Bar Association, Native Hawaiian arrests are not warns there's no easy answer. youths are arrested more disproportionate to ''To say Hawaiians are dysfunctional Loan fund than any other race in the number of because of x-y-z is oversimplified," said violent crimes except for Ornellas, also a chairman of a consor- recipient soars murder, according to the Hawaiians in tium on Native Hawaiians in the '94-95 Native Hawaiian prison." Criminal Justice System. "It's a Data book. multilayered, multifaceted problem." Hawaiian youths William Ornellas, The number of Hawaiians being New CD by comprised 51 percent of Native Hawaiian Bar arrested is average among other races -,Ii< _ the population in the Association in Hawai'i. More Hawaiians go to jail c(eator"of Hawai'i Youth Correc- though. The sentenced-felon rate for tional Facility (HYCF) for ...... adults of Hawaiian ancestry is very the fiscal year ' 94-95. Yet, high. "Hawaiiana" . Hawaiians represent only 20 percent of the "It's a systematic problem," said. total population in Hawai'i. "Most of the data show Hawaiian arrests are Historically minorities have dominated the not disproportionate to the number or prison system, said Maureen Tito, the Hawaiians in prison." education program manager for the Depart- According to Ornellas three main problems ment of Public Safety. exist: The Irish were over-represented in the • Most of the time Hawaiians cannot make prisons at one time and after them the Polish and then the Italians, Tito said. Continued on page 6 "It's rea:lly a social issue r----C-a-u-s-e-s-a-n-d-s-o-Iu-t-io-n-s-f-o-r-n-a-t-iv-e- --, more than anything else," Tito said. Hawaiians in prison Dr. Gene Kassebaum, a Two years ago, participants at a conference on Native professor in criminology and sociology at the University of Hawaiians in the justice system listed the system itself as Hawai'i at Manoa did a recent the reason Hawaiians are overrepresented. study for Alu Like,-an organi- The conference organizers brought together members from the Legislature, prosecutors, defense attorneys, zation which provides employ- ment and other services to judges, probation officers, police officers, providers of Hawaiians. The study is called social services for Native Hawaiians and others. Work "Criminal Justice and groups looked into such topics as arrests, courts, sentenc- Hawaiians in the 1990's: Ethnic ing, corrections and parole. Differences in Imprisonment Work groups considered the causes, solutions and Rates in the State of Hawai'i." strategies to reduce the number of Hawaiians in the "Hawaiians, Samoans and criminal justice system. to some extent Filipino and The causes they chose, in order or importance, were: African-Americans are all over- 1) Issues within the criminal justice system itself represented in the prisons," 2) Negative behavior of individual Native Hawaiians 3) Dysfunctional families • Kassebaum said. The report's aim was to 4) Factors related to lower socio-economic status 5) Issue related to culture determine whether Hawaiian ancestry is a factor in being 6) Other (lack of education, community involvement, education and employment, and problems with existing arrested, convicted and impris- programs, society in general, substance abuse and oned. racism) Hawaiians were over- represented in circuit court The solutions they chose, in order or importance, were: felony crimes and among 1) Changes to, or more services in, the criminal justice probationers, and they are also system less likely to have charges 2) More assistance to families dropped or reduced than any 3) Enhancing existing programs other ethnic group and 4) More culturally appropriate services "overall, Hawaiians were more 5) Alternative education programs likely to get some jail or prison 6) More treatment / behavior training time than non-Hawaiians," the 7) More prevention programs study found. 8) Others (increase community involvement, more The report suggests substance abuse treatment programs, etc.) D 'Ao '00 'Elua Ka War Ola 0 OHA HSEC conference Jacks consensus would be to defend and develop the powers of an indige- by Deborah L. Ward nous nation, such as: forming a government, making laws, assessing taxes, administering justice, managing land and BOARD OF TRUSTEES With the end of the work of the Hawaiian Sovereignty natural resources, regulating commerce and a monetary Elections Council (HSEC) as of Dec. 31, 1996, who will system, conducting international relations, and defending OaytonHee continue to lead and direct the movement for Hawaiian sovereignty and human rights. Chairman Be Trustee. o 'diu sovereignty? Has the process outlined by HSEC for a HSEC's report proposes a mailout ballot for election of Abraham Mona Hawaiian constitutional convention in 1998 been rejected delegates. Eligible voters must be of Hawaiian ancestry, age Vlce-Choir Be Trustee. McAJI outright in favor of a slower process of consensus-building in 18 by December 1997. Prison inmates could vote. Eligible Moanike/ala Akaka the community? Or will two processes go forward simultane- delegates would be of Hawaiian ancestry, age 18 by Retiring Trustee. Howat'/ ously? . " Hannah Kihalani Springer December 1997; however prison inmates would not be Retiring Trustee. Howat'/ No clear answer reSulted from a Dec. 14 Hawaiian confer- eligible to run. Delegates must reside in the moku (district) Rowena Akana ence organized by HSEC to present its final report to the which they seek to represent. Trustee-At-Large Hawaiian community. However, groups interested in contin- HSEC's apportionment plan calls for the election of 200 uing to meet for further discussion agreed to gather at delegates (which could be reduced to 100 if funding is not Billie Beamer Trustee-At-Large Kualoa State Park on February 8. available). It is based upon 1990 U.S. Census data on the About 800 participants from all islands and representing distribution of the total Hawaiian population of 209,593, 185 A. Frenchy DeSoto Trustee-At-Lorge many Hawaiian organizations attended the conference at the delegates are apportioned among Hawai'i, Maui, Moloka'i, Kina/u Boyd Kamali/i Blaisdell Arena. But in a day given over more to ceremonial O'ahu and Kaua'i, according to the population of each moku. Refiring TrtJStee-At-Lorge chanting and protocol, agenda changes to accommodate (Moku districts are based on the 1848 Mahele.) O'ahu, with Haunani Apoliona additional speakers, and comments from the floor, substan- the largest population (91,967 Hawaiians) would have the /ncomlng Trustee-At-Large tive discussion was scarce about HSEC's recommendations most delegates, 122. Next is Hawai'i (23,129) with 31 Moses K. Keale, Sr. for the future, or an alternative proposal. Many people delegates, Maui (12,350) with 16 delegates, Kaua'i (7,510) Trustee. Kouo'/ & Nl'ihou signed up to speak but could not. Time ran out. with 10 delegates, Moloka'i (3,282) with 6 delegates. Ni/ihau, Samuel L. Kealoha, Jr. Though many supported HSEC's work in the three years Lana:'i and overseas Hawaiians each would have 5 delegates. Retiring Trustee. Moioko'l & Lona'/ since its inception as a 20-member appointed body of HSEC envisioned a governance document emerging from Colette Pi/i/pi/i Machado Hawaiians selected from various Hawaiian organizations, the convention, which could be ratified by the people, lncom/ng Trustee. Moioko'l & U'no'/ council members failed to secure unanimous support at the possibly by March 1999. That document could form the basis conference to continue its proposed process through Ha for discussion and negotiations with the State of Hawai'i and ADMINISTRATION Hawai'i.